Automatic clamp for cloth-stretching machines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. W. BUTTERWORTH. AUTOMATIC CLAMP FOR CLOTH STRETGHING MACHINES.

No. 571,105. Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

Witnesses. Inventor Attorney.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. W. BUTTERWORTH.

AUTOMATIC CLAMP FOR CLOTH STRETGHING MACHINES.

No. 571,105. Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

Inventor.

Witnesses.

Attorney.

u: wan-s PETERS 0o, PNDYO-LITMQ, WASNINGTON D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY \V. BUTTERW'ORTII, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE II. IV. BFTTERVVORTII & SONS COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CLAMP FOR CLOTH-STRETCHING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,105, dated November 10, 1896. Application filed June 8, 1896. Serial No. 594,696. No model) To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HARRY \V. BETTER- WORTH, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Automatic ()lamps for Textile Machinery, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to automatic clamps for textile machinery; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My improvements comprehend certain constructions of a clamp adapted to textile-machines, and especially to tentering-machines, which shall have capacity fora portion thereof being turned out of the way to permit the ready passage of the fabric into the clamp and then automatically adjust itself for the proper gripping or clamping of the edge of the fabric.

The special application of my improvements to tentering-machines will make the advantageous features of my improvements more apparent. In tenteririg-machines the edges of the fabric have heretofore been inserted by hand. The clamps as heretofore made have been impractical to permit the fabric to be inserted automatically within the grasp of the clamp, because the upper jaw of the clamp cannot secure a position above the fabric in passing about the end cylinders of the machine. By my improvements I support the gripping-jaws of the clamps in a movable manner on the frame carried by the chain or link of the conveyor in such a manner that the upper jaw may be turned out of the way when passing about the ends of the tentering- 40 machine Where the fabric is delivered to and received from the machine. In this manner the upper gripping-jaw is not in a position to interfere with the passage of the clamps, but may be thrown into and out of operative position at the proper time by stops or cams, so that the device maybe automatic. The cams, however, would be arranged to suit the particular machine or machines to which my improved clamp may be applied. By the corn 5o struction hereinafter set out I provide the lower jaw and the frame for carrying the upper jaw in one rigid U-shaped structure, so that there is no possibility of the upper jaw failing to act in a positive manner with the lower jaw. Furthermore, by this construction I am enabled to simplify and cheapen the cost of manufacture of adjustable clamps of this character.

The details of my invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying 6o drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a cloth-clamp embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are perspec tive views of the upper jaw and controllingfinger for regulating the time of action of the gripping-jaws. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one end of a tentering-maehine, and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a portion of same.

A is one of the longitudinal main frames of a tentering-machine, and is provided with a conveyor A made up of links or otherwise guided in a suitable guide 15. The conveyer is guided about guiding rolls or cylinders I) l). The conveyors are provided with clothclamps 1C, attached to the links thereof and constructed as hereinafter described, and while in Figs. 5 and 6 are shown only upon a few links they may be upon every link or every other link, as desired. The frames of the machine are provided with cams F for actuating the cloth-clamps.

A represents a link of the conveyer-chain and is provided with a laterally-projecting frame I to which the clamp as an entirety is 8 5 pivoted at I) parallel to the length of the conveyer or chain. The eonveyer may be formed in any other manner if desired, but commonly is in the form of a sprocket-chain. This part, however, is immaterial to the special 0011- struction of 111 yimprovements,since the frame 13 may be attached to any conveyor.

0 is a U-shaped frame having one of its legs pivoted at I) to the laterally-projecting frame I the latter being open in its middle to permit the frame C to revolve about its axis I), so as to present the open part thereof upward. \Vhen (he said frame (1 is raised, as indicated in Fig. 2, a spring K snaps into a recess L and holds it normally in said position. \Vhen, however, the frame 0 is depressed, the spring K is received in a recess \V to normally hold the frame 0 in the lastnamed position while on its return through the machine and avoid its swinging. As the eonveyer moves the clamp over its course the cam 1*" or any other suitable cam is employed 1 to act upon the projection M to cause the said frame C to be raised or lowered and move about the pivot D. The lower leg of the frame C constitutes the lower jaw I of the clamp, and when this is in normal clamping position it rests upon an extension E of the frame B, so that it cannot turn farther by the action of the cloth or fabric under the tension or stretching operation. The part E acts as a limit-stop. The jaw G is the upper or movable jaw of the clamp and is pivoted at g to the other leg of the frame C. It is so arranged that by gravity it will fall toward the jaw F, so as to exert a cam action in gripping the fabric.

H is a controlling-finger, which is pivoted upon the same pin 9 as the upper jaw G and is provided with an upward extension I and lateral arms h. The lateral arms h act upon the jaw G, so that as the arm I is pressed outward under the influence of a suitable cam the jaw G is thrown backward and raised clear of the clamping-jaw F.

The controlling-finger II in practice moves through a vertical aperture J in the floor of the frame 0 and is in operation held from descending by the cloth upon which it rests. As the cloth or fabric is drawn outward under the said finger H and jaw G it ultimately liberates the finger II, permitting it to fall, and this action causes the clamp G to be liberated, so that it moves toward the jaw F and grips the extreme edge of the fabric. The finger II, therefore, insures the gripping of the fabric very close to its lateral edge or selvage. By this construction it is evident that no action on the part of the fabric can displace the pivot g relatively to the jaw F, and therefore the clamp as an entirety may be constructed with absolute accuracy and yet be provided with means whereby it may be turned in to and out of position for the purpose of clamping cloth or permitting its passage by the edge of the cloth when it is being delivered or removed from the machine.

I do not confine myself to any specific details of construction; but my invention comprehends, broadly, a laterally-projecting arm or frame adapted to be moved by a suitable conveyer, combined with the cloth-clamp pivoted to the end thereof and adapted to be turned into or out of operative position thereon as an entirety.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a clamp for textile machinery, a laterally-projecting arm or frame adapted to project from a suitable conveyer, in combination with a cloth-clamp having two jaws pivoted as an entirety thereto and adapted to be moved about a longitudinal axis.

2. In a clamp for textile machinery, a laterally-projecting arm or frame adapted to project from a suitable conveyer, in eombination with a cloth-clamp having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereto and adapted to be moved about a longitudinal axis, whereby the pivot of the movable jaw always remains at a fixed distance from the stationary jaw, means for limiting the move ment of the clamp as an entirety in one direction, and a spring to hold the clamp as an entirety in operative position when acting upon the cloth.

3. In a clamp for textile machinery, a laterally-projecting arm or frame adapted to project from a suitable conveyer, in combination with a U-shaped frame having one leg thereof pivoted to the laterally-projecting frame and constituting one jaw of a clothclamp, and a movable jaw pivoted to the other leg of the U-shaped frame and movable to or from the other jaw.

4. In a clamp for textile machinery, a laterally-projecting arm or frame adapted to project from a suitable conveyer, in combination with a U-shaped frame having one leg thereof pix'oted to the laterally projecting frame and constituting one jaw of a elotlr clamp, a movable jaw pivoted to the other leg of the U shaped frame and movable to or from the other jaw, and a controlling-finger an ranged at the rear of the movable jaw and carried by the U-shaped frame for holding the movable jaw out of gripping action until the proper moment.

5. In a clamp for textile machinery, a laterally-projecting arm or frame adapted to project from a suitable conveyer, in combination with a U-shaped frame having one leg thereof pivoted to the laterally-projecting frame and constituting one jaw of a clothclamp, a movable jaw pivoted to the other leg of the U -shaped frame and movable to or from the other jaw, a controlling-finger arranged at the rear of the movable jaw and carried by U-shaped frame for holding the movable jaw out of gripping action until the proper moment, and projections extending from the U-shaped frame and the controlling-finger adapted to be operated upon by suitable cams for imparting movement to these parts at definite times.

6. In a cloth-clamp, a laterally-projecting frame adapted to be attached to and moved by a suitable conveyer, in combination with a clotlrelamp proper comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted in a fixed bearing relatively to the fixed jaw, and a movable connection between the said clamp and the laterally-projecting frame whereby the clamp may be moved as an entirety upon the said frame so as to be capable of being thrown into or out of operative position.

7. In a cloth-clamp, a laterally-projecting frame adapted to be attached to and moved by a suitable conveyer, in combination with a cloth-clamp proper comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted in a fixed bearing IIO relatively tothe fixed jaw, and a movable connection between the said clamp and the laterally-projecting frame whereby the clamp may be moved as an entirety upon the said frame so as to be capable of being thrown into or out of operative position, means for limiting the movement of the clamp proper, and a pro- 2 j ection upon the clamp adapted to be actuated for the purpose of moving the clamp upon the laterally-projecting frame.

8. In a cloth-clamp, a laterally-projecting frame adapted to be attached to and moved by a suitable conveyer, in combination with a cloth-clamp proper comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted in a fixed bearing relatively to the fixed jaw, a movable controlling-finger also pivoted upon a fixed axis relatively to the fixed jaw and adapted to sustain the movable jaw out of gripping action relatively to the fixed jaw by resting upon the cloth, andamovable connection between the said clamp and the laterally-projecting frame whereby the clamp may he moved as an entirety upon the said frame so as to be capable of being thrown into or out of operative position.

i). In a cloth-clamp the combination with the lateral frame I the pivoted frame 0 having the fixed jaw F and jointed to the frame 13 at D, the pivoted gripping-jaw G pivoted at g to the frame 0 at a fixed distance from the jaw F and a controlling-finger II for holding the movable jaw out of action when the cloth is arranged under both the jaw G and controlling-finger II.

In testimony of which invention 1 have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY \V. Bl"PFEIUVOR'III.

\Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, R. M. KELLY. 

